A cafe owner who was once homeless will be serving full English breakfasts to rough sleepers on Christmas Day.

Knotty Ash’s Yummy Cafe owner Simon Whitter will welcome the city’s homeless for some hearty food and festive cheer on the morning of December 25.

Simon, 42, who was placed in care as a child and spent several months living on the streets in Manchester as a teenager, says he wants to spread some seasonal joy in his East Prescot Road cafe.

The dad-of-three opened up his new venture just six weeks ago and says offering free breakfasts and mugs of tea, coffee and hot chocolate to people with no place to call home is his way of giving something back to the community.

A cafe sign in the window reads: “Open Xmas day, 8am-11ish. Free breakfast for the homeless.”

Simon Whitter from the Yummys cafe on Est Prescot road who will open its doors on Christmas Day morning to serve breakfast to the homeless.

Simon said: “I know what it’s like to sleep rough. There’s lots of reasons as to why people are on the streets. Not all homeless people are druggies. A lot of the time it’s that people simply don’t have anyone to turn to.

“I haven’t got the facilities to do a Christmas dinner but I can knock out sausages, bacon and beans all morning long.

“I’m doing this out of my own pocket. I’m not doing it for any reason other than to give something back, now that I can.

“I want people to know about it so people have somewhere to come.

“It’s not the biggest place in the world but it will be cosy. It’s Christmas at the end of the day.”

Simon Whitter from the Yummys cafe on Est Prescot road who will open its doors on Christmas Day morning to serve breakfast to the homeless.

Simon plans to dec the tables with crackers and play music and serve mince pies.

The businessman wants to give Christmas day guests gifts which he hopes will be donated by members of the public over the coming weeks.

If you can donate essential items such as hats, scarves and gloves please drop them off at Yummys Cafe, open daily until 2pm - and just down the road from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital - or call Yummy Cafe on 0151 2542105.